The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-10-14
THE JAPANESE Y. M. C. A.

thI VII hNGSS - WIS ~ ."
The Reading Room in Queen Emma
Hall was filled with large and in
terested audience of japanese last
evening. The long table had been
removed, chairs arranged, walls de-
corated with palms and ferns and
japanese emblems, while from the
rear room the bubbling of the tea
urn, and the fragrance of steaming
coffee, made it evident that our Jap
anese friends believe in physical
comfort as we'll as moral improve
ment. A few of our Christian
workers, interested in this new
movement, were present to partici-
pate in the exercises of the evening.
After prayer by DIR. Hyde and the
reading of the scripture by Rev. L.
L. Gulick, and the singing of one
of the Gospel Hymns, Mrs. +. w.
Damon playing the organ, M. Taro
Ando, the japanese Consul-General
made the opening address, speaking
first in japanese and then in Eng
fish. He proposed and answered
the two questions, What is the OBJ
ject of the Y. M. G. A.? Why
should we join it? He spoke of the
prejudices against Christianity that
had naturally taken deep root among
the japanese when Western adven-
turers landed on the Asiatic Coast,
followed by priests, who sought to
build up an ecclesiastical organiza-
ton inimical to the maintenance of
the independence of the country.
But the recent labors of the mission
aries to Japan had shown what the
great object of Bible Christianity
was, the true blessedness of men,
for time and for eternity. He be-
lieved that all the japanese present
wanted to be loved and respected,
but to secure such love and respect
they must be good and learned. To
help in securing this was the object
of the Y. M. G. A., and no one
could hesitate to say it was a laud-
able object that all ought to pro-
mote by uniting together for that
purpose. Rev. Mr.. X. Miyama,
from the M. Z. Mission in San Fran
cisco, and Mr.. Nakayama, the jap
anese Commissioner of Immigration
for these islands, also gave brief ad.
dresses in japanese which were not
interpreted. Rev. Mr.. Gulick and
Mr.. +. w. Damon, and DIR. Hyde,
spoke in warm approval of this or
ganization of japanese for their own
benefit, morally and Intellectually
Mr.. j. T. Waterhouse, Jr., on be-
half Of the Honolulu Y. M. G. A.,
pledged to the new organization
most cordial sympathy and all pos
sible assistance. 1t is not yet 20
years since this Hawaiian nation
was declared to be Christianized and
ceased to be one of the mission fields
of the A. B. G. +. M. Imperfect
as are our Christian institutions
they seem to have made favorable
impression on the Asiatic immigra-
ton to these islands. Here at this
meeting place of the Eastern and
Western civilizations, we have a
Chinese Y. M. G. A. and Chinese
Churches. The japanese seem to
be now falling into line, and adopt
ing of their own free-will our Christ
ian institutions with such modifica-
tions as they find needful to make
them most efficient for their own
national characteristics and usages.
The japanese Y. M. c.. A., Consti-
tuition, drawn up under the super
vision of Mr.. +. w. Damon, pro-
vides for four Standing Committees
for as many departments, Religious
Work, Educational, Finance, Social,
and Literary Entertainments. 1t is
proposed TO begin class for Bible
study next Sunday evening. The
japanese wished the Committee to
secure some Christian lady to he the
teacher of the Bible class. 1t is
strange that these Orientals should
have such respect for our Christian
women, and desire so strongly the
personal influence of consecrated
womanhood, Mrs, H. n. Coleman
has kindly consented to take charge
Of this new and important field OF
Christian labor. Forty-eight signed
the Constitution of this japanese Y.
NJ. C. A. last evening, and Others
will soon be added to this number.